Here’s the first detailed, photographic illustration of the space issues the sheriff, the clerk and county officials have been wrestling with over the past months at the county courthouse as the three sides try to reach an understanding on future space use.
Circuit & County Court
Ex-Bunnell Cop Mike Stavris Gets 15 Years in Prison and Sex Offender Designation for Repeat Offenses
The severity of the punishment signals a turn-around for a court that had previously been willing to give Michael Stavris the benefit of the doubt and a chance at rehabilitation.
Deemed Competent, Joseph Bova Will Be Tried For 2013 Mobil Mart Murder–and Medicated By Force If Necessary
Joseph Bova is pleading insanity in the February 2013 murder of Zuheily Roman Rosado, a single mother of six. To keep him competent for trial the sheriff’s jail personnel is authorized to use force to keep him on his medications.
Prosecution Drops Further Charges Against Michael Bowling as He Appeals 20-Year Sentence
Michael Bowling was sentenced to 20 years in prison for molesting a 15-year-old, and faced even more serious charges involving his own step-daughter. The state opted to drop those charges.
A Courtroom for a Classroom, Built By Students, Gavels Matanzas High’s Law Flagship
Matanzas High School inaugurated its new courtroom, built by its own students for the school’s law and justice flagship, as the centerpiece of a program intended to develop future lawyers, paralegals and others interested in the law.
Moments Before Trial, Jerald Medders Pleads to 15 Years in Prison On Charges of Raping 16 Year Old
Jerald Medders, the 53-year-old Palm Coast resident, faced a minimum of 30 years in prison and up to life if convicted by a jury, which had already been seated for the week-long trial, when Medders changed his mind and pleaded.
In Jerald Medders Trial, Alleged Sex Crimes Are Triggers to Several Jurors’ Previous Traumas
Several potential jurors were excused Monday during jury selection in the trial of Jerald Medders, 53, who is accused of unlawful sex with a minor, as the jurors spoke of their own traumas.
Calling Judge, Jury and Prosecution a ‘Travesty,’ Michael Bowling Is Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison in Sleep-Over Molestation
Michael Craig Bowling was sentenced to two consecutive terms totaling 20 years plus 10 years’ sex-offender probation after a conviction for molesting a 15-year-old girl visiting his step-daughter for a sleep-over.
James McDevitt Back in Flagler This Week To Contest 40-Year Sentence and Rape Conviction
James McDevitt, the former Palm Coast resident serving 40 years on a 2015 conviction for rape, is alleging ineffective counsel by two successive lawyers.
Florida House Unanimously Approves Plan That Would Permanently Add a County Judge in Flagler
The Florida House on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to add two new county judges, one of them in Flagler, where County Judge Melissa Distler’s workload has long been among the heaviest in the state.
House Prepared To Raise Threshold For Felony Shoplifting From $300 to $1,000
Efforts to raise the threshold amount for the first time since 1986 have stalled in the Legislature in the past. This year’s proposal (HB 589) has steadily moved forward in the House, as criminal-justice reform advocates say there is momentum to pass such measures.
At Drug Court Graduation, Captors Become Heroes, and a City Manager Tells Of the Shooting That Made Him an ‘Orphan’
Flagler County Drug Court graduated four participants after a grueling process, and Alvin Jackson, the Bunnell city manager, who was the keynote speaker, described how his mother shot his father in self-defense.
Why the State Attorney Opted To Drop Sexual Assault Charge on Ex-Commissioner’s 20-Year-Old Son
Stephen Connor Brady, 20, was charged with statutory rape after an 18-year-old woman he knew accused him of assaulting her in November. The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charge when it found that inappropriate behavior may have been misinterpreted.
50 Years In Prison for Thomas Binkley, 62, Who Molested 2 Girls Younger Than 9
Thomas Binkley, the 62-year-old former Bunnell resident, found guilty of molesting two sisters, ages 6 and 8, will serve two consecutive mandatory 25-year terms, but is unlikely to live many years in prison as his health is failing.
In Re-Trial, Michael Bowling Is Found Guilty Of Molesting 15-Year-Old Girl at Sleep-Over
Michael Bowling, 48, was found guilty at the end of a week-long trial of molesting a 15-year-old girl two years ago in a Mondex mobile home, when she’d been visiting his step-daughter.
Latest Twist in Bowling Molestation Trial: Defense Seeks to Impeach Its Own Witness
The lawyer for Michael Bowling, accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl visiting his stepdaughter, is arguing that the two girls made up a story to keep one of them from returning to Kentucky.
After Mistrial, Michael Bowling Is Again on Trial On Accusations He Molested Girl During Sleepover
After December’s mistrial, Bunnell’s Michael Bowling, 48, was back on trial anew today, facing his accuser who says he molested her in a dark closet during a sleepover at her friend’s house.
Judge Denies End of Sex-Offender Probation For Ex-Matanzas Teacher Who Had Sex With Student
James Wolfe was found guilty in April 2014 of engaging in unlawful sex with one of his students, who was 16 at the time, and whom he was coaching in cross-country. He was 30.
Man Who Threatened to Blow Up Sheriff’s Office and Kill the Sheriff Gets 3 Years in Prison
The sentence against Raymond Crown of Palm Coast is a reflection of the vanished tolerance even in the judiciary for threats inspired by bombings or mass shootings.
After December Mistrial, Michael Bowling Will Be Tried Again on Molestation Charges Feb. 18
Michael Bowling is facing two counts of molesting a 15-year-old girl who’d been visiting his stepdaughter for a sleepover in Bunnell’s Mondex.
9 Years in Prison For Tyler W. Dutton in DUI Manslaughter Death of Jordan Marie Rineer, 25
Tyler Wayne Dutton was sentenced to nine years in prison followed by five years’ probation in the death of 25-year-old Jordan Marie Rineer on U.S. 1 in October 2015.
Thomas Binkley, 62, Found Guilty of Molesting 2 Girls, 6 and 8, and Faces Life in Prison
Thomas Binkley of Bunnell was living with the girls at the time of the incidents. Their parents had taken him in because he’d fallen on hard times and was in poor health.
Jury Deadlocks, Mistrial Declared In Case of 47-Year-Old Accused of Molesting Girl at Sleepover
Michael Bowling, 47, will remain in jail on numerous charges even as numerous inconsistencies led a jury today to deadlock over charges he molested a 15-year-old girl.
Defense’s Strategy in Molestation Trial: Attacking, Discrediting and Demolishing an Alleged Victim
The defense in Michael Bowling’s trial today focused not on the charges at hand, but on one key witness, a teen girl, in attempts to impeach her credibility and accusations.
In Child-Molestation Trial, Even a Juror Raises a Question About a Main Witness’ Credibility
The defense seriously damaged the credibility of the step-daughter of Michael Bowling, 47, on trial for molesting the step-daughter’s friend when she was 15–and facing more grave charges regarding his step-daughter as well.
From ‘Seven Minutes in Heaven’ to a Teen’s Accusation of Molestation in a Closet
Michael Bowling, 47, in his first day of trial today, is accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl during a game of “Seven Minutes In Heaven” as the two were allegedly in a closet alone.
Judges Gaustad and Ferebee Join 7th Judicial Circuit Bench, Among Other Changes
The Seventh Judicial Circuit welcomes two new Circuit Judges and announces changes to judicial assignments for several sitting judges.
Survivor of Half-Failed Double-Suicide May Not Get To Blame Depression in “Assisted Murder” Defense
Bruce Haughton says he planned to kill himself and his ex-girlfriend Katherine Goddard in her R-Section home. She died. He survived. The prosecution sees it only as assisted murder, discounting his mental state.
Kimberle Weeks Pleads to Another Felony Count and, Months Late, Files Appeal
Kimberle Weeks, the former Flagler County elections supervisor, pleaded to the eighth and final felony count against her the day her attorney filed an appeal with the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Rejecting Lesser Term, Judge Sentences Jonathan Canales to Life in Prison in Attempted Murder of Ex-Girlfriend
Jonathan Canales, 31, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend Tiffany Norman in their Mondex home in 2014. The judge declined to exercise his discretion, which would have allowed him to sentence him to anywhere from 25 years to life.
In Last-Minute Plea Before Trial, Phillip Haire Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison For
Shooting at His Father and a Cop
Phillip Haire, 21, was facing three life-in-prison terms on 10 violent charges in the drive-by shooting targeting a sheriff’s sergeant and Haire’s father on London Drive in Palm Coast in May 2017.
Death For Dangerous Dog Cooper Likely as Judge Sees Scant ‘Legal Basis’ to Stop It
A circuit judge gave supporters of Cooper, the dangerous dog condemned to death, little hope today after a one-hour hearing in an appeal designed to commute the dog’s death sentence.
Joseph Bova Scrawls Guilty Plea in Mobil Station Murder, But Is Judged Still Incompetent
Joseph Bova is accused of first degree murder in the execution-style shooting of store clerk Zuheili Roman Rosado at the Mobil convenience store on State Road 100 in February 2013.
Ex-‘Funworld Place’ Owner Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges as State Drops Its Own
Jerard Davis, 33, a resident of Palm Coast’s Buttonwell Lane, was originally arrested after a high-profile search of his business, from where police claimed he was selling drugs and counterfeit merchandise.
For 4th Time Since 1995, State Attorney Drops Criminal Charge Against Ex-Dr. Fruehan, But ‘Further Proceedings’ Possible
Even though his office filed the charge a day before the two-year statute of limitation expired, Fruehan was not served until after the date passed.
D’Marcus Boyd, 22, Is Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison and 5 Years’ Probation Over Rape of Ex
D’Marcus Boyd, released from prison two and a half years ago, pleaded guilty to raping his then-fiancee and burglarizing his father’s house in Palm Coast’s P Section.
Court Hearing in Notorious Case of Dangerous Dog Cooper Scheduled for Day Before Election
The owner of Cooper the dog wants a judge to overrule a Palm Coast hearing officer’s death sentence so the dog can be exiled to a refuge for dangerous dogs on Florida’s west coast.
Jury Finds Jonathan Canales Guilty of Attempted Murder of Ex; He Faces Mandatory Life in Prison
A jury believed the prosecution’s argument that Jonathan Canales had attempted to kill his then-girlfriend and made up innumerable stories, claiming she had attempted suicide.
“If I Was To Shoot Tiffany, Do You Think I Would Use a .22 When I Have an M-4 Laying Right Next To Her?”
Jonathan Canales, accused of attempting to murder his ex with a rifle shot to the neck, said he’d have used a more powerful weapon if he really wanted to kill Tiffany Norman, and left her dead.
Who Shot Tiffany Norman? In Attempted Murder Trial, Her Ex Is Shown as Dissembling Narcissist
Jonathan Canales, shown through body cam and interrogation videos, couldn’t keep his story straight or mask his misogynistic hatred of the victim as the trial entered its third day.
Overlooked Evidence Between Blood Spatters Undermines Prosecution in Canales’s Attempted Murder Trial
The prosecution’s first day unwittingly revealed that a crime scene investigator missed key evidence in the shooting of Tiffany Norman in Jonathan Canales’s trial on an attempted first-degree murder charge.
Judge Rules Prior Allegations of Threats and Violence Admissible in Jonathan Canales’s Trial for Attempted Murder of Ex
Jonathan Canales, 31, goes on trial Monday on attempted first-degree murder of his ex-fiancee, Tiffany Norman, four years ago in the Mondex. Today’s ruling was a blow to his defense.
As Jonathan Canales’s Trial for Attempted Murder Nears, Ex Alleges History of Violence Before He Shot Her
Tiffany Norman, 29, for the first time in court spoke of her life with Jonathan Canales leading up to the night when he allegedly shot her in the neck with a rifle as her three young children slept in the family’s trailer in the Mondex in 2014.
State Attorney Drops Battery Charge Against Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, Closing the Case
The domestic battery misdemeanor charge against Eric Cooley was dropped Friday morning after the prosecution failed to convince the alleged victim to cooperate, ending the three-month case against the Flagler Beach city commissioner and 7-Eleven owner.
Judge Moore-Stens Denies Gag Order on Sheriff, Dissolving Mound of Motions In Eric Cooley Case
Telling the attorney seeking a gag order on Sheriff Rick Staly that he was on a “fishing expedition,” County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens this afternoon denied the motion, ending an unusual sideshow in the battery case against Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley.
Memories of Heartbreak, Triumph and Farewells at Flagler’s 32nd Drug Court Graduation
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig returned to preside over Flagler’s drug court graduation for the last time and saw goodbye to 11-year coordinator and tough cop Mike Greenier.
Claiming Judge Moore-Stens “Abused” Her Discretion, Sheriff Staly Appeals to Circuit Court for Stay on Subpoena
Sheriff Staly and his office in a flurry of legal moves today attempted to quash a subpoena that would have him testify Thursday in Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley’s case of alleged domestic violence.
Sheriff Staly Must Testify on His Own ‘Prejudicial’ Language in Cooley Case as Judge Upholds Subpoena
It is the most striking development yet in the high-profile domestic-violence case against Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, roping in the sheriff in unexpected ways. He is fighting the subpoena.
Obtravies Watkins, 35, Is Guilty of Attempted Murder and Rape and Sentenced to Life in Prison
Obtravies Watkins was found guilty for what turned into the kidnapping of a Daytona Beach prostitute, whom he then brutalized and left for dead off Old Kings Road in Palm Coast.
Attorney Calls For Gag Order on Sheriff Staly in Eric Cooley Case, Claiming Prejudicial Words
Palm Coast Attorney Josh Davis wants a court to muzzle Sheriff Rick Staly in the case of alleged domestic violence involving Flagler Beach City Commissioner Eric Cooley. The sheriff is having none of it.